BlackFive

Investor's Business Daily had a great article on Rick Rescorla back in 2006.  Here's a taste:

His Actions Saved Thousands
<...>
After the second plane hit the south tower on Sept. 11, some people panicked when one staircase filled with smoke. Using his bullhorn, Rescorla directed them to a clear one. As on the battlefield, he sang to keep workers calm.

Even after it appeared that Rescorla evacuated most of the Morgan Stanley employees, he returned to check for stragglers. As Olson was working his way down on about the 10th floor he saw Rescorla going back up.

"I said, 'Rick, you have got to get out of there,' and he said, 'I will, as soon as I get everyone out,' " Olson said.

It was the last known sighting of Rescorla...

"Today is a day to be proud to be American"

Those words were shouted by Rick Rescorla as he herded 2700 people out of tower two, September 11, 2001.

"Men of Cornwall stop your dreaming
Can't you see their spear points gleaming?
See their warriors' pennants streaming
To this battlefield.
Men of Cornwall stand ye steady
It cannot be ever said ye
for the battle were not ready.
STAND AND NEVER YIELD!"
- "Men of Harlech"
Sung by Rick Rescorla in the Ia Drang Valley 1965 and in the stairway of WTC Tower 2 on September 11, 2001

First, you must read the definitive post about Rick Rescorla by Greyhawk at the Mudville Gazette.  Rescorla was one of my heroes when I was a Sergeant-turned-Cadet and began reading extensively about Viet Nam and the Ia Drang Valley.

Rick was a British (Cypress and Rhodesia) and American (Viet Nam) war hero.  He retired as a Colonel in 1990.

Decades later, after 9/11, I had no idea that Rescorla had everything to do with denying Al Qaeda a huge victory.  I wasn't surprised that Rick had saved 2,700 people that day, and then paid the price with his life when he went back into the tower for stragglers.  He knew, KNEW, it was coming down.  And he went anyway...

Tenacious, strong, and leading all the way to the end.

In 2006, we honored Rick at Pundit Review Radio where I featured him - Rick Rescorla - Someone You Should Know Radio ("September 11th" podcast for Pundit Review Radio).

Appropriately, Rick now has a statue at the Infantry Center at Fort Benning.  The US Army has honored his accomplishments.  AWTM had a post about visiting the museum and defending Rick.

And Bookworm Room has a great post about how Rick's life prepared him for his heroic death.

Rick's town of Hayle, Wales (UK) has this plaque honoring their son:

Rick's widow, Susan, left this comment for all of us (you, too!) here at Blackfive in 2008:

Thank you for keeping Rick alive. I know why Rick died, and I am so proud of him. The book, and of course the fabulous bronze statue, which will be on Heroes'Walk in 2008 will endure forever, as his legacy, as a new Hero in our new millinium. Today is a day to be proud to be an American.

All the best, Susan Rescorla

September 11th is a day to be proud to be an American.  .

Stand and never yield!

[In case you're wondering why the Men of Harlech may be familiar]